German football team has local flavor

Kirk Heidelberg is back in Germany, and he brought some Rockford’s stars with him this time.

Heidelberg coached the Rockford Christian football team from 2006-2011, leading them to four straight playoff berths and a 35-15 overall mark in five seasons.

Now Heidelberg is back in Germany coaching professional football. And while his Dusseldorf Panthers fell 27-25 on a last-minute field goal to the Cologne Falcons on Saturday in the German Football League season opener, it wasn’t because they didn’t get enough help from their Rockford contingent.

With former local standouts Gerry Ford (Rockford Christian) and Dontrell Chance (Guilford) scoring a rushing touchdown each, and another former RC running back — Arthur Ford — getting set to join the team after he rehabs an injury, there will be plenty of Rockford flavor on the Panthers’ roster. And that’s not to mention the guy who brought them all together – Heidelberg — who is in Germany for his third stint as a head coach.

“This year I decided to get back into coaching, and I just missed Germany,” Heidelberg said. “It’s such a great country, and a great opportunity for these kids. And, to be honest, it’s a great opportunity for me, too, because they soak it up around here.”

Before coming to Rockford Christian, Heidelberg coached for seven different U.S. college football teams, including a stretch as tight ends and special teams coordinator for the University of Toledo. He first went to Germany in 1995, when a referee who worked some of the games he was coaching told him of the opportunities overseas. It was then that he met his wife, Marie, and he quickly carved out a niche that would bring him back — again, and again.

Heidelberg was named German Football League Coach of the Year in 2000 with Cologne and 2003 with Hamburg, both times leading his team to league championships. The difference this time is that he made a push to bring some players with him.

“It’s so different out here, but it’s football, and football is football, and it’s all about playing the game I love for as long as I can,” said Chance, who was an All-Region running back for the College of DuPage last season. “I knew this would be an adventure, and it would get me some more experience, so I was like ‘Where do I sign?’ “

Heidelberg made the push to get the two Fords on board as well, and he says there’s a chance that someday more from Rockford will play in Germany.

And if they do, there’s always room to grow. Players he has coached in Germany who have gone on to the NFL are: Bennie Anderson (Baltimore Ravens), Jerry Evans (Denver Broncos), Vince Marrow (Buffalo Bills) and Peter Heyer (St. Louis Rams).

“I’ve never been so excited about an experience in my life,” Gerry Ford said. “And it’s pretty competitive out here. I like it. It’s a different lifestyle, and it’s beautiful. And what an opportunity.”